Astro Blog

The Background

Roughly this time last year I sat down with a new client. She came in flustered having just bought a new home, she had a two year old son in her right hand a 3 month old daughter in her left hand; needless to say starting a renovation was rather daunting. The client had a conceptual idea for the home and a husband who was onboard for anything. Before I saw a single photo of their newly purchased home I was told “we want the home to have a calm Scandinavian country feel… but still modern”. Then the moment of surprise came, I was presented photos of house untouched since its 1930’s construction and a set of architectural plans for a renovation that looked like every mass builder would produce. First thing I asked the client was “If I can have your trust, would you let me throw out any preliminary work and let me start new?” The client said yes and everything else is history.

Astro Designer, Dean Large shares his design process with this Before & After Rejuvenation of a Heritage Home in the Glebe.

The Restoration

Ottawa seems as though it is the city of beautiful old homes that nobody wants to care for. The city is going through a period where home owners are opting for the wrecking ball instead of spending the extra time restoring these once stunning homes. This past summer I met a fantastic family who was tired of their suburban home and opted to move into the oh-so coveted Glebe. They sought out a home in need of rejuvenation and took it upon themselves to bring it back to its former glory.

Farmhouse Designs

Kitchen and Bath Designer, Dean Large of Astro Design Centre, has completed top-to-bottom designs in this new Farmhouse outside of Ottawa. His designs have won awards at the NBKA Design Excellence Gala, and have been featured in Ottawa at Home Magazine for its unique charm. Below is a recap highlighting Dean’s kitchen and bath designs in this new home

THE BEFORE

Kitchen & Bath Designer, Nathan Kyle, was asked by these homeowners to transform their white kitchen into a space that felt more cozy and comfortable, as oppose to sterile clean. As a certified Kitchen and Bath specialist with award-winning designs at GOHBA’s & NKBA’s, plus 5 years of design experience under his belt, Nathan was the perfect fit for the project.

See how it all came together, resulting in a major transformation!! We couldn't even believe it ourselves.

"A downsizing retired couple realized their lifelong dream of living on the water with this home on the picturesque Rideau River near Ottawa, Ontario. And they wanted the decor in their new home to complement the views they loved so much outside. Because this home is smaller than their last one, they decided to forgo a dining room and put their antique dining room table in the kitchen. Working with interior designer Nathan Kyle, they created a kitchen that not only incorporates the dining room, but also suits the home’s farmhouse-inspired style.

Kitchen Makeover: Reinventing The Space

Renovating a home when you have an active, busy and big family might seem completely daunting. However, the end result makes the months of agonizing decisions, construction mess and dinners consisting of takeout and sandwiches well worth it.

Working with Tiffanie and Kent was a huge pleasure, they not only were a great client open to all the potential their space had to offer, but they were a lot of fun.

This project shows that if the open mindset, creative use of a budget and enough patience are there, then the end result will completely outweigh the process of tackling a major renovation.

Before & After: Kitchen Remodel

Homeowners, Hugo and Luc wanted to start their kitchen renovation as they felt needed a new look. Although, the kitchen cabinets were in good condition, the style and finishes were outdated. It was time for a change. Before we get started, let’s take a look at what their kitchen used to look like: